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I smile at Coldlake Bridge in the distance that divides the north from the west. At the skyscrapers of the city center where Cassius lives and Salvatore works. At the waters of the lake itself. I got vengeance on my own terms, without a drop more blood spilled. For the first time in nearly two years, my heart is lighter than air.
Mom is happy. I can feel it.
I smile at each of my men in turn, admiring their handsome faces burnished by the afternoon light. I cup my belly with my hands, feeling the strong kick of the little one within.
“Vengeance is sweet. But being here with you all is even sweeter.”
Epilogue
Chiara
Irun my fingers across the white daisy petals and smile. Daisies are such sunny flowers. Mom always loved them, but because they looked cheap and common, she wasn’t allowed to grow them in our garden.
I get slowly to my feet, one foot and then the other, and then, it seems, I have to haul my huge belly up last of all. There’s a sea of daisies in the garden, as well as dahlias, poppies, and chrysanthemums. It’s slow work, gardening while you’re eight-and-half months pregnant, but since the day of Dad’s rally, I’ve needed soothing work. Gentle work. A place for my mind to wander over the memories, good and bad, like a bee wanders over a flower bush.
Within a week of the rally, Dad was charged with Mom’s murder and as an accessory to the sisters’ murders and was refused bail. He’s currently sitting in jail awaiting his trial. I have no doubt he’ll plead not guilty, and he might be acquitted of Mom’s murder seeing as the only witnesses are four mafia men and their girlfriend. I’ve given my statement to the police about the night of my seventeenth birthday, and my men have, too. I’ll give my evidence in court when the time comes and I’ll hold my head up high when I do. I have no reason to be ashamed.
Lorenzo told me an interesting thing a few days ago. One of Zagreus’ bounty hunters watched police divers in the canal by Bleaker Street. They were there for an hour, pulling out slimy shopping trolleys and muddy sneakers, before finding what they seemed to be looking for. A knife. Lorenzo’s knife that he threw into the water the night he first kissed me, and the one Dad used to murder Mom. Lorenzo told the police about it when he was interviewed. Maybe it will help in the case and maybe it won’t, but it lightens my heart to know that people are talking about Mom at last and investigating her murder.
For the sisters’ murders, I’m more hopeful. Thane tells me there’s interesting electronic forensic evidence to corroborate what Dad admitted in the basement at Strife. Evidence that shows Dad knew about many of De Luca’s murders before he committed them and incited him to kill the syndicate’s sisters. It was a perfect arrangement for them. De Luca could sate his bloodlust and Dad could punish the men who were keeping him from wielding ultimate power in Coldlake. De Luca was frightening, but Dad’s cruelty and pettiness leaves a sick taste in my mouth.
Ophelia, Amalia, Evelina, and Sienna will get their day in court. Everyone in Coldlake and beyond will hear how Dad was complicit in their murders, and the murders of many other women.
My men have mixed feelings about this. It’s not the kind of justice they normally take comfort in, and they still don’t trust Coldlake’s officials. The story is too big and too scandalous to be swept under the rug. Secrets were what allowed Dad to get away with murder. Secrets and power, and now he has neither to hide behind. All of his influential friends melted away once the story hit the news and, it turns out, Dad wasn’t as solvent as he pretended to be. He had to sell the house to cover his legal expenses.
So, I bought it with my own money. Money I didn’t even know I had.
When Mom died, I was so sunk in grief that I didn’t hear when her will was read. I was underage so it was easy for Dad to keep the truth from me. Mom married Dad with a small fortune of her own and she’d changed her will when I was thirteen to leave everything to me. The Black Orchid Murders happened when I was nine and De Luca continued to kill outside Coldlake through all my teen years. Dad grew more ambitious and must have felt untouchable. I wish I could ask her what happened in the years between when I was nine and thirteen to make her change her will. I don’t believe she knew Dad was involved in any murders, but perhaps she felt something evil growing in the man she loved and quietly made plans to protect me.
I feel her in the rooms of this house, especially at night when the lights are low and soft music is playing. I stripped away the few things that reminded me of Dad and now it’s all Mom.
Me and Mom.
I filled in the swimming pool. With the pool gone, the house feels completely different, and I planted a garden in its place with all her favorite flowers.
Daisies and dahlias. Poppies and chrysanthemums.
* * *
I gointo labor three days early. I feel calm as I announce to Salvatore and Cassius that I think I’ve had a contraction, but they turn so pale it’s as if they forgot I was pregnant.
While they’re still reeling from shock, touching my belly, and grabbing my shoulders, I take out my phone and call the midwife. Then I video call Vinicius and Lorenzo and tell them what’s happening.
“Kitten, oh my God. How are you feeling?”
“A little nervous, but I’m all right.” I glance at the other two. “You’d better get here quickly.”
“Why? What’s wrong?” demands Lorenzo. From the way his screen is jumping around it seems like he’s broken into a run.
“Oh, I’m fine. But Salvatore and Cassius could use some emotional support.”
Seven hours later, the contractions are a fierce band around my belly. I feel like my muscles are going to squeeze me and the baby to mush at any moment.
“Breathe, baby.”
I’m no longer calm.
“You fucking breathe!” I shriek at Salvatore, and his eyes practically cross as I squeeze his hand so tight that the bones creak.
